Ok. Let’s begin with 30 seconds of silence. During this time, if you are a Believer in Christ, leave everything you have with Him, and let your soul rest in silent listening mode until the end of the blog. Let go of all your expectations and your judgments. Pick them back up at the end. If you don’t believe in God, this is still, maybe even especially, for you. I ask that you let go as well, leave your perspective behind for a few minutes, and just take it all in. I know sitting in silence can be uncomfortable but please try it. It will make all the difference.
Let the silence begin.
Ok. I will share with you what’s been on my heart and mind lately.
Before I began this 11-month missions trip, I knew that the last four months were going to expose me to and maybe even revolve around human trafficking and the sex industry. When applying to do the World Race, we had to pick which route of 11 countries in a particular order that we wanted to/felt called to visit and help. I picked my route because it began in Haiti and went through Zimbabwe. The fact that September 2014 Route 3, the one I chose, ended in Southeast Asia, didn’t cause any sort of emotion in me initially. I knew so little about Southeast Asia. After reading for a total of 5 minutes about the countries I would visit, I learned that the places I was to go, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam, were some of the hottest spots on the planet for prostitution, and the import and export of human beings for sex. I cried mainly out of sadness for the people being trafficked, my frustration and fear that I would not be much help, and because of my on ignorance. Then the Lord spoke to me and let me know that my primary mission would be to help the men. I was to be a light, an encourager, and in some cases a friend, to the men doing the buying of women, children, and ladyboys. Wide-eyed, thinking about whether or not I had enough love to forgive these men and not judge them, and of course the obvious fact that I am a women so I don’t think like a man, and we may not be able to relate to one another and in cases I could be a temptation for them, I took a deep breath and said, “Ok Lord, Send me in.”
I read the book, “Half the Sky:Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide” by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn in month 2 of the Race, in Bolivia. The title of the book was inspired by a Chinese proverb that says, “Women hold up half the sky” and the book was about programs and people all around the world who have supported women and children brought out of the sex trade. The book told of dozens of success stories that revolved around the empowerment, education, and sponsorship of formerly trafficked women and children allowing them to raise awareness, start businesses, and gain respect in their cultures to end the cycle of poverty that contributed to their being sold in the first place. After reading that book, I decided that I was going to be all about helping the women, including committing to international missions for life and specializing in gynecology when I went to medical school within a year or two after completing the Race.
In month 9, while in Thailand, two months into my 4 month stint in Southeast Asia, after doing bar ministry by ministering to girls and ladyboys in prostitution with my dad and other World Race parents (AMAZING!!!!), I remembered the men. I looked back on the 1st 8 months and realized that along the way, I had befriended, and was even mentored my men who used to or still do buy women for sex. In fact the three people, all Christian men, who have inspired me and helped my faith walk most on the Race, are a man who struggled with paying for sex in the past, one who still does every weekend, and a man who is descended from a prostitute and men who bought women. In parts II, III, and IV of this blog respectively, I will share with you their stories. Please keep an open mind and heart. I know each of these men personally and have seen INCREDIBLY beautiful things come from their lives, despite the hurt they or their family members caused. Read their stories and try to leave judgment behind for a time, and really see them. Then decide what your role is and what it will be in their lives.
Stay tuned.
